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Morning all!!

Well, I made my weekly word count, but happened to do it all yesterday.  I had such good intentions of using my work leave to do a bit of writing, but instead watched dvds, read novels and generally slobbed around the house.  Is this a female thing?? Every female I've spoken to has said: yes - slobbing around the house doing nothing all day is a perfect holiday.  Whereas every male I've spoken to has looked at me as though I'm slightly insane - possibly a little dangerously so - and asked why on earth I wasn't going anywhere or doing something.  Come on, guys; there must be some of you out there who think being a couch potato for a week has some merit! 

Hope you had a wonderful writing week.

Mdx

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Well done anyway, Merryd. An achievement is an achievement. And good luck. Fingers crossed for you.

My week. Well, I'm calling it on the first pass of my edit. I've tidied up the plot and dotted those i's and crossed those t's. The writing needs tidying, so there'll be a second edit in the cards before I dare show it to anyone. I want to give it some more time before I do any more editing on it so yesterday I embarked on a re-imagining of the project I set aside earlier this year. It's had time to marinate and the ideas are coming much easier this time. I've also set myself a higher word count so we'll see how that goes. I achieved it yesterday so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Oh, nearly forgot. Holidays. It's a role reversal in my house. When I've got a break of any description I like to be out doing stuff. Not, you know, action adventure, skidiving stuff but I do like to go places and see things. I like to think of it as collecting memories. Mr Me just had 2 weeks off work though and I don't think he budged from the living room except when it was time to go to bed. So there ya go.

Have a great week, all.

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hello, I'm new to this forum. I'm a new writer, always written for fun but now trying to be a bit more serious about it and finish it! I have the very bad habit of getting sidetracked! Currently I'm writing a story I started years ago that I have repicked up after cleaning out some old boxes. I've gone back to the planning stage as the story has changed bu the idea is very similar.

I'm a big fiona mcIntosh fan, I love almost all fantasy books, I'm not reading anthing in particular right now as I have just started univeristy and that takes most of my time up, I'm studying history and English then I'm going to study Egyptology.

I'm looking forward to having people to talk to about their writing and to be able to get some advice.

Ketesh

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'Last time I was this bored I took prisoners!' Vala Mal Doran

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Welcome, Ketesh. It's always good to see a new face, or name as the case may be.

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Hello Ketesh The writers from the board meet here each Tuesday so I hope you feel very welcome to drop by and have a chat, share with us your progress and your experiences as you write. Sometimes is just a nice place to flop into to talk about your week! This little cohort is very friendly, very supportive so don't be shy. How exciting that you've begun university - hope you're enjoying it and if I was going into uni right now you've picked the exact choice I would. I envy you. Enjoy it and make the most of all that you can learn. All of these subjects will aid your writing of fantasy enormously. I was in Egypt last year and it's definitely a place all four of us want to return to. It leaves you a bit slack-jawed and awed actually. Have you been to Cairo? Anyway, all the best with your writing....and thank you for enjoying my books. F

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I went to Egypt about 4 years ago. Spent 3 weeks there. It was amazing!

I'm trying to get back in 2010 for the belly dancing festival. It goes for about a month twice a year and is the centre for belly dancing in the world. And they welcome any one but beginners do find it a bit daunting!

Ketesh

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'Last time I was this bored I took prisoners!' Vala Mal Doran

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and i just remembered, I got my copy of Emissary at the airport waiting to fly out to Egypt!

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'Last time I was this bored I took prisoners!' Vala Mal Doran

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Hi everyone,

Sorry I missed you all last week.  I'm think I'm missing some days somewhere?  I feel like I've woken from a daze and suddenly half a year has gone! 

Well first off - Merryd, best of luck with the IVF, and I can quite honestly say that I would have no trouble at all slothing around the house doing nothing all day...if I could just get a chance at it!  At the moment I have one sick son, my teenager who has just started working at KFC part-time and my full-on two year old daughter taking away all my slothful tendencies!  Enjoy your slothing while you can, I say!

Marelle, congrats on finishing edit number one, well done you! 

Welcome back Trissn and just plain old welcome to Ketesh, I hope you have as much fun as I do catching up with these wonderful writers!

Oh and almost forgot...Ebony, I hope you've saved your characters after your off week last week!

Well now, I have finished rewriting my rewrites and have finally realised that my ms is not going to get any better than it is right now, in my mind.  I could carry on editing forever I think, but not make any real difference to the story, so...I've taken the bull by the horns and sent it off to a publisher today!  I'm feeling both free and extremely scared, if that makes any sense.  I know I'll probably get rejected, that's a given and I'm prepared for it, but I had to do it.  I need to move on.  I've researched a lot of children's fantasy publishers and liked this one the most, so there you go. 

So now I'm free to start ms #2!!! 

Happy writing everyone!

Claire x

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Well, hrumph, Claire....I feel every inch the outcast! Serious congratulations on the courageous move. It does take courage and this is a wonderful step you've taken on the road to being a published writer. All of us writers that you read, and those you admire, had to take this step at one stage in their lives....and they were nervous, and fed up of trying to improve their manuscripts, and fully accepting of rejection but quietly, just quietly, harbouring very private shiny hopes of something amazing happening. And it did for all those writers you love. And if it did for them.....why not you? I know it's your first but having researched your publishers and chosen with care, you might just hit the right editor at the right time with the right story. It happens. It happened to me with my first attempt to write anything creative. There is absolutely no reason it can't happen for you in a similar way. Hopefully, if it's not picked up first time, that editor will give you some insight into how it can be adjusted and improved to suit what he/she is looking for and fingers crossed the editor will encourage you to make those enhancements and return the manuscript for reconsideration. In the meantime, loud cheers from all of us and good luck. Let's hope something wonderful happens for you. Fx

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Merryd, sometimes its good to recharge, especially when going through IVF. I'm sending positive vibes your way that this cycle works for you.

Clairea; Great move! I can't wait for the day you do a post saying your MS has been accepted by a publisher.

At the moment my 15 month old daughter has issues with me writing, she wants to join in, and sit in my lap and bang on the keyboard. (Future author...)  I've tried an old one, but she wants mum's keyboard. So its slowed the progress right down since I can only type at night, and my husband wants time at the computer too. So I either jot down notes for the story or draw some pictures of scenes from the story. I find it a great way to spurr the ideas along...

See ya all next week!

Cheers Ebony.

 

 

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"I don't have your eyes...but I have your way of looking at things..."

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Fiona,

Thank you so very much for all your encouragement and kind words.  I don't think I'd feel as ready to get my baby(ms) out in the big bad world if it wasn't for you and all these wonderful writers spurring me on.  I can't wait for us all to have a post up saying I DID IT! And I have every faith that we will, and as for you Fiona, I don't think you can top what you're already fantastic at, just keep on keeping my book shelf stocked with your fabulous stories.  You're so inspiring!

Much gratitude,

Claire x

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And as for the Hrumph, I apologise, I didn't intentionally leave you out,  but how can I possibly motivate you more than you do yourself.  I've never known anyone so hardworking!  I just wish 'The whisperer' was in the shops so I could read it and be even more inspired than I already am!

Love Claire x